Ref. On Hinduism

[Guest guest]

This is repost of the article wrote for alt. hindu in response to a question

on belief on god, for those who have not seen it.

Hari Om!

Sadananda

----------------

sadananda (K. Sadananda)

Newsgroups: alt.hindu

Is belief in God essential for a Hindu?

11 Jun 1994 00:23:49 GMT

 

Recently two questions were asked: Does Hinduism require that one believe

in God?

Does Hinduism require one to be vegetarian? In this article I will address

the first - I will address the second later.

Hinduism and God? The questioner says:

"I asked many people this question, but not got a clear answer?" First -

Nobody is going to provide a clear answer unless you are willing to receive

it. If you have already made a conclusion as your statement, "It appears

to me not, because ......" implies, then none can give you any clearer

answer.

 

Some one went to Bhagavaan Ramana Maharshi and said "Bhagavaan, one question

has been bugging me for a long time and I have asked many Mahatmas before,

but no one has given me a satisfactory answer. I have come here today to

seek an answer from you. Could you please answer me .. ," saying that he

was about to pose the question. Ramana Maharshi with a smile stopped him

right there, and told him that there is no point for him to ask the

question, since his answer will also be not satisfactory to the questioner.

Bhagavaan knew that the questioner loves his question so much that he is not

going to give it up whatever be the answer.

 

But here are some thoughts for you to ponder about. You don't have to

accept them but you should have an open mind to receive and to analyze

before you accept or reject it.

 

Does Hinduism require one to believe that there is God? Answer to this

question requires an understanding of the terms Hinduism, God and belief.

First, Hinduism is not a ism - it is truly called Sanatana Dharma.

Sanatana stands for ancient or time immemorial and Dharma has different

degrees of meaning. In its barest sense, it is because of which the thing

is what it is and without it the thing is not. (In mathematical terms that

which fulfills at least a necessary but not necessarily a sufficient

condition, is its essential Dharma). Sweetness is the essential Dharma of

sugar, it is a necessary condition but not necessarily a sufficient

condition. If it is sugar it has to be sweet (necessary condition), but if

it is sweet it need not be sugar (it can be Equal!).

What is Sanatana Dharma – The pursuit of human life is divided into four. -

Dharma (in this context Dharma stands for righteousness as in Dharmam chara

-follow a righteous path) Artha, Kama and Moksha. The two inner ones, Artha

and Kama, are to be bounded by the two outer ones Dharma and Moksha. That

is, pursuits in acquiring wealth and fulfilling the desires are to be within

the limits of Dharma and with a goal in mind on Moksha. But of the four the

first three; Dharma, Artha and Kama, in general, are place (dEsa) and time

(kAla) specific. What is right in India then may not be right

elsewhere, now. {This statement is made in a general sense recognizing that

there are universal values irrespective of time and space such as one

should not lie or one should not steal - even a notorious liar or thief

beliefs these values to be followed to the extent that he does not want

others to lie or steal his(stolen) property - These are in a sense

universal values- but situations can arise that there can be conflicts

between

the values - for example can one lie to protect a life etc. That is why the

greatest psychologist Lord Krishna does not give these values in Ch. 13 of

Bhagawad Geeta as commandments - He only says wise man follows these

values; if you want to be otherwise then don't. In Hindu scripture the

values are not taught as doos and don'ts but through stories - how mahatmas

solved the situations when conflict between two or three values arose - I am

getting into a different topic}. Coming back to our discussion only pursuit

that is universal in terms of time and space (from time immemorial) is the

pursuit for Moksha. That is the goal of Sanatanadharma. In India life was

centered on this. From music to dance to all education was in India tuned

towards this higher goal. (This is the reason why Hinduism is called a way

of life - it is not any way of life, it is a way of life tuned towards

Moksha!) Now what is Moksha has been interpreted differently by different

Acharyas. You can choose your pick that suits your upbringing, values and

intellectual conviction. But bottom line that is common to everyone is

longing for permanent absolute uninterrupted happiness. Bhogi, who is

indulged in fulfilling desires is also seeking for long lasting happiness -

but he is searching for it in the wrong place. Yogi, recognizes that

absolute happiness can only obtained (from where it is available!) by

self-realization (for Advaitins) or reaching the abode of God (Dwaitins and

VishishhTaadvaitin). For the later ones, complete surrenderance at feet of

the Lord is the only means for salvation. In all, Bhakti, Karma or Gyana

are means for purification of the mind. These yogas help the mind to develop

viaraagya -detachment from the external dissipative pursuits, and conserve

the energy to channel towards higher goal -Moksha. Ultimately all Acharyas

teach that it is not by effort you reach Him. All you can do is to prepare

the mind (either by surrendering the ego at the alter of your love -that is

Bhakti or by transcending the ego through viveka, vichara and Nidhidyasana).

All this requires complete faith(Shraddha) (it is not belief) that God will

embrace you and take you there. How do I get this Shraddha - only through

the teacher or guru in whom you have complete trust - Otherwise there is

always a doubting Thomas in every one of us. Krishna's final declaration

in Bhagawad geeta is “Sarvadharman Paridyancha mAmekam SharaNamvraja ....

moksha isyAmi mAsrujah.”. Leave everything and surrender to me I will give

you Moksha. In order for me to do that I should have complete unconditional

trust or faith in Him. Since I don't see or I cannot see Him in person,

for me to develop that faith I need a teacher who can give me that faith.

 

To recall what has been said so far, Hinduism therefore is Sanatana

Dharma, it involves redirecting the pursuit in life towards Moksha and that

involves complete surrenderance or Bhakti, which requires complete faith in

the teacher and in the goal. Krishna's teaching is universal not limited

to sons of Bhaarat. Then who is a Hindu? The one who pursues Sanatana

Dharma - In fact Krishna uses a universal pronoun "Yah" that means `whoever

he may be he who' (no preference to cast, creed, gender, national origin -

perfect EEO teaching!)... follows this with complete Shradda he reaches ME.

Now am I a Hindu - I am not unless my pursuit in life is directed towards

the highest, God. Birth in a family, dress code that is followed or name

tag - does not make me a Hindu - These are neither necessary nor sufficient

to be called a true Hindu - On the other hand, I can be a Christian or

Muslim but if my pursuit is towards the Sanatanadharma I am truly a Hindu

whether I want to be categorized that way or not is immaterial. We are not

talking about the superficial names but the fundamental goal in life. I

cannot pursue that highest goal, God, unless I have a complete Sraddha or

faith. From this, answer to your question follows- for me to be a Hindu I

have to have a complete unquestionable faith in the Lord. In fact Krishna

has put it very bluntly - He wants Ananya Bhakti - unadulterated devotion

towards HIM. Most of us have commercial Bhakti - we go to the temple and

ask Oh Lord Give me this or that -He is ready to give Himself, but we don't

want Him. So our Bhakti is towards this or that and not for the Lord. Lord

calls us Artharthis since we go to Him not for His love but for the love of

this and that. As long as He gives this and that we have faith in HIM. If

He does not give what I desire then I don't have faith in Him. - This is

not true faith or true Bhakti. This is because we have not understood what

God is and what we are. To have complete unconditional love towards Him, I

need to know who this God is. There are different schools of thought

involving SAGUNA BRAHMA OR NIRGUNA BRAHMA - this is an involved topic and I

will refrain from discussing it here. Perhaps discuss it some other time

since it involves God as creator-sustainer-destroyer and God as

Karmapaladata etc.

 

 

One last point- there is a difference between Faith and Belief. Belief

becomes a faith if it is reinforced with reason and intellectual

understanding. What Sanatana Dharma emphasizes is the faith not belief.

All great Hindu scriptures are dialogue between the teacher and the taught.

That is called Samvada (like Krishnaarjuna Samvada)- They are no

commandments to follow blindly. Questioning is encouraged for

understanding. Belief with understanding is faith. The reason faith is

important is the goal that we are trying to reach is beyond the intellect.

We cannot intellectually comprehend the truth. But we need some working

hypothesis to start our pursuit and journey. If I don't know where New

York is, but I have faith in the masters who have traveled on the path and

put the signboards for me to follow and by following these I have a better

chance to reach my goal. This faith is further reinforced if on my way I

encounter Mahatmas who have been to New York!

 

I sincerely hope you think about the ideas presented neither accepting nor

rejecting blindly! I pray you become a true Hindu. -

Hari Om!

Sadananda

 

 

 

 

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